“Their presence prolongs the life of the factions.” The American forces will remain under different

[size=52]“Their presence prolongs the life of the factions.” The American forces will remain under different names[/size]

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[size=45]A British report sheds light on the US withdrawal from Iraq at the end of this year, under various names, while noting that the presence of foreign forces there gives armed factions loyal to Iran an excuse to survive.[/size]
[size=45]The British "Middle East Monitor" website stated that the Shiite factions, which are under pressure and affected by weakness, received a "lifeline" to revive them, by not completely withdrawing US forces from Iraq by the end of this year.[/size]
[size=45]The report quoted political and security leaders as saying, "With the passage of the deadline for withdrawal on December 31, the factions will be able to reassert their presence on the political and security arenas through renewed attacks on American targets and a hostile rhetoric against the American presence."[/size]
[size=45]Withdrawal or redeployment?[/size]
[size=45]While the report referred to the unofficial truce announced by the factions in November 2020, and to the Iraqi government’s announcement last July that the agreement was concluded with Washington to withdraw American combat forces by the end of 2021, it was considered that “on the ground, it has become clearly evident It is increasing that the United States is redeploying its forces, rather than withdrawing.”[/size]
[size=45]The British report noted that "a group of armed factions, most notably Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq and Kata'ib Hezbollah, threatened to resume their military operations as of January 1, and target US interests in Iraq, including military and diplomatic sites."[/size]
[size=45]He continued, "The Iranian-backed factions are in a bad situation and did not perform well in the elections last October, and were also subjected to pressure after being accused of attempting to assassinate Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi, while the elections reinforced differences in particular between the faction leaders about their orientations and the wealth that they made. They get it from different projects.”[/size]
[size=45]Faction Survival[/size]
[size=45]The report quoted political and faction leaders as saying that “the factions returned to the fore and strengthened their position due to the Iraqi government’s manipulation of terminology regarding the so-called (withdrawal) and its failure to demand a correct American exit in accordance with its pledges.”[/size]
[size=45]According to a prominent Shiite politician close to Iran, the armed factions “were in an unenviable position, and it can be said that they were at their weakest in years and reeling under the weight of the recent blows they received from several sides,” adding that even Iran stood watching them, and did not extend a helping hand. for them. The Iranians have so far avoided interfering in the interests of the armed factions.”[/size]
[size=45]The politician continued, "Al-Kazemi's game, if I may call it a game, has unfortunately revived them (the factions) and strengthened their position and brought them back to the fore as a major player in the political and security scene."[/size]
[size=45]The report stressed that what also worries the factions is that "Iran, which is sponsoring them, does not seem to have a problem with Al-Sadr forming a government that does not include the factions."[/size]
[size=45]He pointed out that "all these developments have put the factions in a defensive position, a situation they were not used to before, but things may witness a change now."[/size]
[size=45]Faction Weapon[/size]
[size=45]The report quoted a former adviser to the prime minister as saying that “there is a weapon that needs a reason,” noting that the presence of US forces in Iraq constitutes “the best excuse for them to keep their weapons and legitimize their presence,” adding that “there is great pressure on them, and for this they will use these measures.” matter as an issue to them. This pretext will be one of the most important cards they will play with al-Sadr and with the rest of the political parties during the next stage. Suppose it is a ticket for their return to the political arena.”[/size]
[size=45]Al-Kazemi's role[/size]
[size=45]Two Iraqi officials familiar with the strategic dialogue rounds with Washington said that the description of "non-combat forces" was promoted by Iraqi officials in order to justify the presence of at least 2,500 US soldiers after December 31.[/size]
[size=45]One of these Iraqi officials said, "Even the United States does not classify its forces as combative or non-combat, and that the prime minister and his team used the characterization of non-combat forces in order to strengthen their success in persuading the Americans to withdraw their forces from Iraq by the end of the year."[/size]
[size=45]The official added, "There will be no withdrawal of US forces from Iraq. What is actually happening is a redeployment, not a withdrawal.”[/size]
[size=45]As for the second official, he pointed out that the Iraqi-American agreement did not include the word “withdrawal,” but it stipulated the termination of combat missions and the formal transformation of the mission into an advisory and training role.[/size]
[size=45]The official indicated that “this means reducing the number of these forces,” adding that “the word of withdrawal did not appear in the agreement signed between us and the American side, and the American negotiators refused to include the word withdrawal in the agreement despite our insistence on including it,” noting that a dispute arose between the two negotiating teams, The Iraqis insisted on including the word "withdrawal" in the agreement, but the Americans refused.[/size]
[size=45]The first official concluded his speech by saying that “Al-Kazemi was seeking to achieve victory, even if it was illusory,” adding, “We will see now who will pay the price.”[/size]
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